A Washington lobbying firm jointly hired by the city of Carlsbad and Eddy County almost two months ago has hit the ground running in addressing goals and objectives set by the two local governments, according to the firm.

On Friday, city and county leaders came together for an early morning telephone conference with Jeff Murray, a partner in the C2 Group lobbying firm. Murray gave an overview of the issues his firm is working on in the area of the nuclear industry.

Murray, a Carlsbad native, said his firm has met with the Department of Energy to urge the agency to set the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant's budget for the 2013 fiscal year at $212 million.

However, after meeting with DOE officials, he said the budget may come in at $198 million. WIPP is a federal nuclear waste repository located about 27 miles east of Carlsbad.

Murray said Congress will be in a lame duck session after the November General Election and probably not much will be done in terms of budget issues until next year.

He said his firm has also met with officials on the issue of thermal testing, the proposed defense high level waste repository, interim storage and additional nuclear waste streams.

Lea and Eddy counties hope to establish an interim nuclear fuel consolidated storage facility in
Eddy County, near its shared border with Lea County.

In 2006, the two counties, along with the cities of Carlsbad and Hobbs, formed the Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance LLC (ELEA) and purchased 1,040 acres that they believe is suitable for such a facility that would be funded by the DOE.

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More than 65,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel is currently stored in 75 reactor sites nationwide, with 2,000 more tons produced each year. ELEA's members believe the kind of facility it is proposing would consolidate that spent fuel until it can be reprocessed or stored.

Recently, ELEA partnered with AREVA, a French Company known primarily for nuclear power operations to help field a proposal to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. If chosen, AREVA would build and operate the facility.

City and county leaders believe by having a lobbyist in Washington to push forward the proposed facility and educate Congressional leaders, it will strengthen the chances of getting the facility built here.

Eddy County Commissioner Jack Volpato and ELEA's treasurer said the work Murray's firm is doing in Washington on behalf of the city of Carlsbad and Eddy County in the nuclear industry arena is to help convince the DOE and Congress that there's a local consensus favoring the
facility.
Former state Rep. John Heaton, who serves as ELEA president and is working closely with
Murray and his firm, said like WIPP, which took years to build and to get open, the proposed
interim storage facility won't happen overnight. However, he said having WIPP and proving that it
is safe is a plus.
Murray advised that setting up an interim storage coalition at a 501(3) (nonprofit) and getting
utility companies to contribute would be good for public relations in New Mexico and Washington.
"We've got one utility signed on, and we hope to get three more," Murray said.
Heaton added: "If we did this, it may help us too with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
licensing."
Heaton said before ELEA moves forward to get an NRC license, it will have to win the state's
endorsement.
"Its going to involve educating not only the public, but state officials and Congress, which will
have a lot of new members after this election," he said. "The state will probably want incentives
such as direct dollars if we get this facility. That's something we will have to work out later on."
When Carlsbad and the state of New Mexico agreed to allow the Department of Energy
to build WIPP in the salt beds east of the city, the federal government offered annual WIPP
acceleration funds that were provide to the city of Carlsbad and the state for education and
infrastructure and economic development.
Heaton said, should the federal government offer a similar incentive for the proposed interim
storage facility, everyone will have to come to the table to decide on the amount the state and
ELEA communities would receive.
Murray suggested putting together a packet that can be distributed to new members in
Congress and the New Mexico Legislature so they can understand the issues and the concept of
interim storage.
Murray said to help him on Capitol Hill, his firm has hired former U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici,
who represented New Mexico for years until he retired. Murray said Domenici is well versed in
nuclear issues and WIPP. In addition, although he has been out of Congress for four years, he
still commands a lot of respect in Washington.
City Councilmember Janell Whitlock asked Murray if Domenici's fee would be additional to the
money the city and county are equally paying to his law firm.
Murray was adamant that Domenici's fee for his services will be paid by the C2 Group.
"He will be also working on other issues for us not related to our contract with Carlsbad and
Eddy County," he said.
Eddy County Commissioner Lewis Derrick told Murray that while the work his firm is doing on
the city and county's behalf is good, there needs to be transparency to the public.
He requested that a monthly or quarterly report be submitted to the commission that includes
what has been achieved and the amount spent.
"I want it to be attached to our minutes from the meetings so that that public has access to it,"
he said.
Murray promised to keep local government leaders in the loop and provide a written report
as requested by Derrick. He said he will also come to Carlsbad on a quarterly basis to present a
report on the work his firm has done.